There is a beautiful and convincing explanation given by the Chinese.....

Thumb represents your Parents.

Second (Index) finger represents your Siblings.

Middle finger represents you.

Fourth (Ring) finger represents your Life Partner.

Last (Little) finger represents your children.

Firstly, open your palms (face to face), bend the middle fingers and
Hold them together - back to back.

Secondly, open and hold the remaining three fingers and the thumb - tip to
tip.
(See link below)

Now, try to separate your thumbs (representing the parents)..., they
Will open, because your parents are not destined to live with you lifelong,
and have to leave you sooner or later.

Please join your thumbs as before and separate your Index fingers
(representing siblings)...., they will also open, because your brothers
And sisters will have their own families and will have to lead their own
separate lives.

Now join the Index fingers and separate your Little fingers
(representing your children)...., they will open too, because the children
also will
get married and settle down on their own some day.

Finally, join your Little fingers, and try to separate your Ring
Fingers (representing your spouse). You will be surprised to see that you
just
CANNOT....., because Husband & Wife have to remain together all their
lives - through thick and thin!!



(As shown in the figure below):
http://indu-ram.sulekha.com/mstore/indu-ram/albums/default/ShowLetter.jpg